US7479298B2 - Optical element and method for making the same - Google Patents
Optical element and method for making the same Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US7479298B2 US7479298B2 US11/513,194 US51319406A US7479298B2 US 7479298 B2 US7479298 B2 US 7479298B2 US 51319406 A US51319406 A US 51319406A US 7479298 B2 US7479298 B2 US 7479298B2
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- protrusions
- micro
- curable resin
- resin layer
- pointed
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related, expires
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C59/00—Surface shaping of articles, e.g. embossing; Apparatus therefor
- B29C59/02—Surface shaping of articles, e.g. embossing; Apparatus therefor by mechanical means, e.g. pressing
- B29C59/026—Surface shaping of articles, e.g. embossing; Apparatus therefor by mechanical means, e.g. pressing of layered or coated substantially flat surfaces
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C35/00—Heating, cooling or curing, e.g. crosslinking or vulcanising; Apparatus therefor
- B29C35/02—Heating or curing, e.g. crosslinking or vulcanizing during moulding, e.g. in a mould
- B29C35/0266—Local curing
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29D—PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE
- B29D11/00—Producing optical elements, e.g. lenses or prisms
- B29D11/00009—Production of simple or compound lenses
- B29D11/00278—Lenticular sheets
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C59/00—Surface shaping of articles, e.g. embossing; Apparatus therefor
- B29C59/02—Surface shaping of articles, e.g. embossing; Apparatus therefor by mechanical means, e.g. pressing
- B29C59/022—Surface shaping of articles, e.g. embossing; Apparatus therefor by mechanical means, e.g. pressing characterised by the disposition or the configuration, e.g. dimensions, of the embossments or the shaping tools therefor
- B29C2059/023—Microembossing
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C2791/00—Shaping characteristics in general
- B29C2791/001—Shaping in several steps
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29L—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
- B29L2011/00—Optical elements, e.g. lenses, prisms
- B29L2011/0083—Reflectors
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
- Y10T428/24—Structurally defined web or sheet [e.g., overall dimension, etc.]
- Y10T428/24479—Structurally defined web or sheet [e.g., overall dimension, etc.] including variation in thickness
- Y10T428/24612—Composite web or sheet
Definitions
- This invention relates to an optical element and a method for making the same, more particularly to an optical element and a method involving forming a resin layer with a plurality of adjoining protrusions using a press-molding plate for making the optical element.
- a backlight module is one of the key components for making a liquid crystal display, and serves to provide a uniform light source for enabling the display of an image on a liquid crystal panel. Based on the disposition of the light source, backlight modules can be classified into a bottom lighting type and a side lighting type.
- the side lighting type normally includes a light guide and optical elements, such as diffusing sheets and brightness-enhancing sheets, for transforming the light emerging from the light guide into a uniform light to be cast onto a liquid crystal panel.
- the bottom lighting type normally includes a diffuser plate and optical elements, such as diffusing sheets and brightness-enhancing sheets, for enhancing the uniformity and brightness of the light emerging from the diffuser plate.
- FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional optical element 1 for a bottom lighting type backlight module.
- the conventional optical element 1 includes a diffuser plate 11 and a plurality of spaced apart protrusions 12 formed on the diffuser plate 11 for concentrating the light emerging from the diffuser plate 11 .
- the top surface 121 of each of the protrusions 12 is curved.
- Manufacture of the optical element 1 involves the steps of: preparing the diffuser plate 11 ; coating a curable resin on the diffuser plate 11 so as to form a curable resin layer; curing and hardening the curable resin layer using a UV light or an E-beam; patterning and etching the hardened resin layer so as to form the protrusions 12 ; and heating and softening the protrusions 12 so as to form the curved top surface 121 of each of the protrusions 12 .
- the softening temperature depends on the material of the curable resin, and is about 55° C. for epoxy resin or acrylic resin.
- the protrusions 12 are spaced apart from each other, a portion of the light emerging from the diffuser plate 11 passes through the protrusions 12 , and the remainder of the light by-passes the protrusions 12 .
- the light passing through the protrusions 12 and the light by-passing the protrusions 12 differ in intensity and direction, which results in a non-uniform light beam when projected onto an adjacent optical component.
- the object of the present invention is to provide an optical element and a method for making the same that can overcome the aforesaid drawback of the prior art.
- a method for making an optical element comprises: preparing an optical substrate; coating a curable resin on the optical substrate so as to form a curable resin layer on the optical substrate; embossing the curable resin layer so as to form a plurality of adjoining pointed micro-protrusions, each of which has a tip end; heating the pointed micro-protrusions of the curable resin layer in such a manner that the tip end of each of the pointed micro-protrusions is softened and is spread over the remainder of the respective one of the pointed micro-protrusions so as to form the adjoining pointed micro-protrusions into adjoining rounded micro-protrusions which cooperatively form a continuous curved surface; and curing the curable resin layer.
- an optical element that comprises: an optical substrate; and a resin layer formed on the optical substrate and formed with a plurality of adjoining rounded micro-protrusions that cooperatively define a continuous curved surface opposite to the optical substrate.
- FIG. 1 is a fragmentary schematic view of a conventional optical element for a backlight module of a liquid crystal display
- FIG. 2 is a fragmentary schematic view of the preferred embodiment of an optical element for a backlight module of a liquid crystal display according to this invention.
- FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating consecutive steps of a method for making the preferred embodiment according to this invention.
- FIG. 2 illustrates the preferred embodiment of an optical element that can be used as a diffuser plate or a brightness-enhancing sheet for a backlight module of a liquid crystal display, a reflective plate, an optical plate for holo-photograph use, or the like.
- the optical element includes: an optical substrate 2 ; and a hardened resin layer 3 formed on the optical substrate 2 and formed with a plurality of adjoining rounded micro-protrusions 31 that cooperatively define a continuous curved surface 30 opposite to the optical substrate 2 .
- each of the rounded micro-protrusions 31 has top and bottom ends 311 , 312 , and cooperates with adjacent ones of the rounded micro-protrusions 31 to define a recess 32 thereamong.
- the recess 32 is tapered from the top ends 311 of the respective ones of the rounded micro-protrusions 31 to the bottom ends 312 of the respective ones of the rounded micro-protrusions 31 to form a vertex 321 .
- the optical substrate 2 functions as a diffuser plate in this embodiment, and includes a matrix 21 and a plurality of diffusing particles 22 dispersed in the matrix 21 so as to exhibit a light scattering effect.
- the matrix 21 is preferably made from a material selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate, polyester, cyclo-olefin copolymer, and polymethylmethacrylate.
- the hardened resin layer 3 is preferably made from a resin material selected from the group consisting of acrylic, epoxy, acrylic-epoxy, polyurethane, and silicone.
- FIG. 3 illustrates consecutive steps of a method for making the optical element of the preferred embodiment according to this invention.
- the method includes the steps of: preparing the optical substrate 2 ; coating a curable resin on the optical substrate 2 so as to form a curable resin layer 3 ′ on the optical substrate 2 ; embossing the curable resin layer 3 ′ so as to form a plurality of adjoining pointed micro-protrusions 31 ′, each of which has a tip end 311 ′; heating the pointed micro-protrusions 31 ′, of the curable resin layer 3 ′ in such a manner that the tip end 311 ′ of each of the pointed micro-protrusions 31 ′ is softened and is spread over the remainder of the respective one of the pointed micro-protrusions 31 ′ so as to form the adjoining pointed micro-protrusions 31 ′ into adjoining rounded micro-protrusions 31 which cooperatively form the continuous curved surface 30 ; and curing the curable resin layer 3 ′ so as to harden the same to form the hardened resin layer 3 with the rounded micro-protrusions 31 .
- the coating of the curable resin can be conducted in a conventional manner such as spinning coating using a Carma coater, rollar coating using a roller coater, and die coating using a die coater, and is preferably conducted using the roller coater.
- the embossing of the curable resin layer 3 ′ is conducted using a press-molding plate (not shown) which has a recessed pressing surface with a structure corresponding to the structure of the pointed micro-protrusions 31 ′.
- the softening temperature is performed at about 55° C. during softening of the curable resin layer 3 ′.
- Curing and hardening of the curable resin layer 3 ′ can be conducted using a UV light or E-beam heating means.
- the rounded micro-protrusions 31 of the optical element of this invention form a continuous curved surface 30 , the entire light beam emerging from the optical substrate 2 can pass through the rounded micro-protrusions 31 , thereby alleviating the aforesaid drawback associated with the prior art.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
- Ophthalmology & Optometry (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (AREA)
- Thermal Sciences (AREA)
- Optical Elements Other Than Lenses (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims (5)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
CNB2005100986346A CN100401158C (en) | 2005-09-05 | 2005-09-05 | High molecular optical components with mini-pattern and method for manufacturing same |
CN200510098634.6 | 2005-09-05 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20070054096A1 US20070054096A1 (en) | 2007-03-08 |
US7479298B2 true US7479298B2 (en) | 2009-01-20 |
Family
ID=37830341
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US11/513,194 Expired - Fee Related US7479298B2 (en) | 2005-09-05 | 2006-08-31 | Optical element and method for making the same |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US7479298B2 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2007072459A (en) |
CN (1) | CN100401158C (en) |
Families Citing this family (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN104070680A (en) * | 2013-03-26 | 2014-10-01 | 南昌欧菲光科技有限公司 | Stamping forming device and method thereof |
US20160178907A1 (en) * | 2014-12-17 | 2016-06-23 | Htc Corporation | Head-mounted electronic device and display thereof |
TWI697718B (en) * | 2019-09-19 | 2020-07-01 | 暘旭光電股份有限公司 | Optical film and backlight module |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20040235406A1 (en) * | 2000-11-17 | 2004-11-25 | Duescher Wayne O. | Abrasive agglomerate coated raised island articles |
US20060050387A1 (en) * | 2000-03-16 | 2006-03-09 | Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. | Antireflection film |
US20060132945A1 (en) * | 2003-06-06 | 2006-06-22 | Koichi Sano | Microstructured optical film and production process thereof |
Family Cites Families (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5183597A (en) * | 1989-02-10 | 1993-02-02 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Method of molding microstructure bearing composite plastic articles |
JPH05196808A (en) * | 1992-01-21 | 1993-08-06 | Sumitomo Dow Ltd | Light diffusion plate and liquid crystal display unit constituted by using the same |
JPH06273762A (en) * | 1993-03-19 | 1994-09-30 | Tanaka Kikinzoku Kogyo Kk | Light diffusion sheet for back light and its production |
JPH11147255A (en) * | 1997-11-19 | 1999-06-02 | Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd | Manufacture of light conduction plate with prism shape |
JP2000105550A (en) * | 1998-07-31 | 2000-04-11 | Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd | Scattering type display element and manufacture of display element |
JP2002062818A (en) * | 2000-08-16 | 2002-02-28 | Sony Corp | Microlens and method of manufacturing image display device |
JP3876631B2 (en) * | 2001-03-01 | 2007-02-07 | オムロン株式会社 | Optical element provided with resin thin film having micro uneven pattern, manufacturing method and apparatus of reflector |
JP4073695B2 (en) * | 2002-03-28 | 2008-04-09 | クレハエラストマー株式会社 | Optical filter for display screen |
JP2005062541A (en) * | 2003-08-14 | 2005-03-10 | Alps Electric Co Ltd | Optical member and its manufacturing method, and surface emitting device and liquid crystal display device |
CN1641432A (en) * | 2004-01-16 | 2005-07-20 | 颖台科技股份有限公司 | Straight-down Backlight module diffusion board and its manufacturing method |
-
2005
- 2005-09-05 CN CNB2005100986346A patent/CN100401158C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2006
- 2006-08-31 US US11/513,194 patent/US7479298B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2006-09-01 JP JP2006238199A patent/JP2007072459A/en active Pending
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20060050387A1 (en) * | 2000-03-16 | 2006-03-09 | Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. | Antireflection film |
US20040235406A1 (en) * | 2000-11-17 | 2004-11-25 | Duescher Wayne O. | Abrasive agglomerate coated raised island articles |
US20060132945A1 (en) * | 2003-06-06 | 2006-06-22 | Koichi Sano | Microstructured optical film and production process thereof |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
JP2007072459A (en) | 2007-03-22 |
US20070054096A1 (en) | 2007-03-08 |
CN100401158C (en) | 2008-07-09 |
CN1928658A (en) | 2007-03-14 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: CHI LIN TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., TAIWAN Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:LEE, MAO-SONG;SHIH, HSI-HSIN;CHENG, SHIH-KAI;REEL/FRAME:018257/0431 Effective date: 20060823 |
|
FPAY | Fee payment |
Year of fee payment: 4 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: CHI LIN OPTOELECTRONICS CO., LTD., TAIWAN Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:CHI LIN TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.;REEL/FRAME:030425/0223 Effective date: 20110725 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: CHI LIN TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., TAIWAN Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:CHI LIN OPTOELECTRONICS CO., LTD.;REEL/FRAME:030438/0231 Effective date: 20130425 |
|
REMI | Maintenance fee reminder mailed | ||
LAPS | Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees | ||
STCH | Information on status: patent discontinuation |
Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362 |
|
FP | Lapsed due to failure to pay maintenance fee |
Effective date: 20170120 |